ww taipei booklet stephanie hsu (1)
TRANSCRIPT
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INNOVATIVE THINKINGREFINED LIVING • FUTURISTIC DESIGN
STEPHANIE HSU
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ABOUT THE TAIPEI EXCHANGE
Broadening entrepreneurial horizons, SUITCASE
Magazine and The WW Club have teamed
up with W Taipei to bring together influential
creative women from all over the globe. Our
cross-cultural exchange in Taipei will connect five
young successful female entrepreneurs in the
creative industries from the UK and US with their
counterparts in Taipei.
Taking place between the 2nd-6th May 2016 and
hosted at the luxurious W Hotel Taipei, this four-day
personalised programme aims to broaden cultural
perspectives, enrich creativity, and celebrate
women’s achievements around the world.
#TheTaipeiExchange
PLEASE SHAREYOUR TRAVELS
thewwclub.com SUITCASEmag.com
@thewwclub@SUITCASEmag
@wtaipei @whotels
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WELCOME TO TAIPEI!
BASIC MANDARIN
Sometimes feeling more like a small
island town rather than a major
capital city, Taipei is an unhurried
but vibrant metropolis founded in
1709. It has an enthralling fusion
of aboriginal, Chinese, Japanese,
and Western influences in its food,
culture, folk arts and architecture.
It’s famous for its safe streets and
very warm people, so you’re bound
to make a few friends.
The downtown area is culturally
divided into East and West: The
West side, with its narrow streets
and roadside vendors is considered
the bastion of old Taipei life. East
Taipei, with its state-of-the-art
malls, chic boutiques and stylish
restaurants and cafés reminiscent
WELCOME(Huānyíng)欢迎
HELLO(Ni Hao)你好
THANK YOU(Xièxiè)谢谢
HOW ARE YOU?(Nǐ hǎo ma?) 你好吗
WHAT’S YOUR NAME?(Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?) 你叫什么名字?
GOODBYE(Zàijiàn) 再见
PLEASED TO MEET YOU(Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ) 很高兴见到你
SHA3 DAN4 (傻蛋)Stupid egg
Meaning: Expression
used to describe
someone who is stupid.
HUA1 HUA1 GONG1 ZI (花花公子)Difficult to translate. 花花 means “flower” and 公子 means “man”. A花花公子 is a playboy, a man
who has many women in
his life. In this expression
“flower” refers to women.
CHANG2 SH2 FU4 (长舌妇)Long Tongue WomanMeaning: A woman
who enjoys and spreads
gossip.
FUNNY IDIOMS
Hotala! Toasting is taken very seriously.
Only toast with alcoholic drinks and use
both hands
Just a slight nod of the head and smile when meeting someone.
Men may shake hands if friends. Let someone
else introduce you.
Never touch a person’s head, especially a
baby’s head, as it is considered sacred.
Don’t shout or act disorderly in public.
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of those found in Tokyo, Paris or
New York, represents the city’s
metamorphosis into a modern and
international city.
Experiencing the real charm of
Taipei requires you to slow down
and embrace simple pleasures
(even if you don’t have that much
time in your itinerary). Linger over
a flat white at a café tucked into a
leafy alley, meander through the
street markets and take a moment
to absorb the Minnan-style temples
beautified with unique decorative
arts. It is this sensuality - coupled
with world-class design and
futuristic neon neighbourhoods -
which make Taipei an Asian capital
like no other.
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WHAT TO PACK
BRING OUTFITS FOR:
Temperatures in May are hot and humid but
the weather can vary day to day. Pack a range
of items that can take you from 25-35° (77-90°F)
N.B The Taiwanese are not afraid of a short
short. Air conditioning can be intense inside
so bring a shawl or a cover up with you at all
times. Take suncream and sunglasses as well as
an umbrella or waterproof as thunderstorms can
occur at any moment. Taipei is a casual city but
people do dress up at night.
RELAXING BY THE POOL
WORKOUT GEAR
PANEL EVENT AND INTERVIEWS
1 SMART DINNER2 CASUAL DINNERS
WALKING AROUND THE CITY
1 NIGHT OUT
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ITINERARY TUESDAY 3RD MAY | W HOTEL INSIDER TOUR
Monday 2nd May13:30-14:30 Dim Sum lunch at YEN Restaurant, W Taipei
14:30-15:30 Ride to Beitou
15:30-16:30 Hot spring experience at Grand View Resort
16:30-17:30 Ride back to W Taipei
19:30 Dinner at S.T.A.Y. by Alleno Yannick, Taipei Tower 101
Tuesday 3rd MaySee table on opposite page
Wednesday 4th MayIndividual itineraries - see following pages
Thursday 5th May10:00-10:45 FUEL workout session
10:45-11:30 Light breakfast
11:30-13:00 Optional hair and make-up
13:00-14:00 Light lunch at W Taipei
14:00-17:00 Group media interviews
18:00-20:00 Panel, W Taipei
20:30 Dinner at YEN Restaurant, W Taipei
FridayDepart
08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast at W Taipei
10:30 - 11:00 Ride to Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple
11:00 - 12:30Experience Xia Hai City God TempleWalk through DiHua StreetVisit an old tea house
12:30 - 13:00 Ride to Fujin Tree
13:00 - 14:45 Lunch at Fujin Tree – Taiwanese cuisine & champagne
15:00 - 17:45 Explore the MinShen District
17:45 - 18:00 Ride to Mr. Meat
18:00 - 19:30 Dinner at Mr. Meat.
19:30 - 19:45 Stroll to Tonghua Night Market
19:45 - 21:30 Explore Tonghua Night Market
21:30 - 21:45 Ride to local Spa
21:45 - 22:30 Foot massage experience
22:30 - 22:45 Take the MRT back to W Taipei
22:15 - 22:45 Drinks at YEN Bar, W Taipei
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BEAUTY TOURSERENA +MADELINE
INDIVIDUAL ITINERARIES
08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast at LoCo Food
10:00 - 11:30 Visit Watson’s Ximending: tour of a typical Taiwanese drugstore and products (led by Alice Shih)
12:00 - 12:45Sculptor Barber for “hangover treatment” with shampoo and essential oil massage.
13:00Explore Songyan Eslite, a hub of independent design stores - lunch in the basement food court.
15:45 Lashlab nail artist & lash extensions
17:30 Return to hotel
19:30 - 21:00
Dinner at Addiction Aquatic Tresors de la Mer, an upscale fish-market, gourmet grocery and raw bar concept.
21:00 - 22:00Drinks Pt 1: Ounce (speakeasy-style bar)
22:30 - lateNight Out at MQ Taipei (known for award-wining cocktails) & Frank (known for views)
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DESIGN TOURPHOEBE + OLIVIA
INDIVIDUAL ITINERARIES
08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast at LoCo Food
10:00 - 11:30 Studio Visit with Mano Jewellery
11:45-12:45 Lunch at Slack Season Noodle
13:00 - 14:00Tour of Yongkang area & check out Good Design Institute (cafe owned by a well-known design agency).
14:20 - 16:00Taipei Fine Arts Museum (stop for a coffee at Maji Maji if time-permits)
16:30 - 17:30 Tour of VVG stores in East District
17:30 Back to Hotel
19:30 - 21:00Dinner at Addiction Aquatic Tresors de la Mer, an upscale fish- market, gourmet grocery and raw bar concept.
21:00 - 22:30Drinks Pt 1: Ounce (speakeasy-style bar)
22:30 - lateNight Out at MQ Taipei, known for award-wining cocktails & Frank known for its views
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FOODIE TOUREMILY + ALICE
INDIVIDUAL ITINERARIES
08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast at LoCo Food
09:30 - 11:30 Explore Zhongshan district.
11:30 - 14:30
Taipei Eats Tour, hosted by IG @taipeieats. This will include stops at a traditional wet market, various hole-in-the-wall eateries, and finally at Songyan Eslite food court.
15:00Afternoon tea at the famed Wistaria Tea House with tea expert/ freelance writer Clarissa Wei.
17:30 Back to Hotel
19:30 - 21:00
Dinner at Addiction Aquatic Tresors de la Mer, an upscale fish-market, gourmet grocery and raw bar concept.
21:00 - 22:00Drinks Pt 1: Ounce (speakeasy-style bar)
22:30 - lateNight Out at MQ Taipei (known for award-wining cocktails) & Frank (known for views)
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STEPHANIE HSU
INDIVIDUAL ITINERARIES
08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast at LoCo Food
10:30 - 11:30
Studio Visit with Mano Jewellery (DESIGN), leave early to SculptorBarber (BEAUTY)
12:00 - 13:00
Sculptor Barber for “hangover treatment” with shampoo and essential oil massage - 35 mins. Drop BEAUTY tour at Songyan Eslite, head back to Yongkang Area
13:00 - 14:00Tour of Yongkang area & check out Good Design Institute (DESIGN).
15:00Afternoon tea at the famed Wistaria Tea House with tea expert/ freelance writer Clarissa Wei (FOODIE TOUR).
15:45 Drop BEAUTY tour off at LASHLAB for nail artist & lash treatments.
16:30 - 17:30 Tour of VVG stores in East District.
17:30Return to hotel and get ready to host the rest of the evening.
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BLOSSOMING JUICE
A grab-and-go affair, this juice bar
serves very colourful fresh juices,
smoothies and milkshakes. Order
the Dragon Queen which comes
topped with dried fruit.
TAIMO CAFÉ
A great hidden gem in the heart
of the city. A very limited selection
(mostly sandwiches), but the
interiors are stunning. We’ve put it
under our one hour section but you
could easily spend all day here.
TOP BRUNCH SPOTS AND CAFÉS PLACES TO WORK
STOPPAGE TIME CAFE
Located in the student-filled alleys
in the heart of Taipei’s university
district - the simple decor, open
kitchen, light, tasty food and free
working spaces make it the perfect
environment for productivity.
MODERN MODE & MODERN MODE CAFE
Wander down the charming
rundown alleys of the city’s aging
Datong district for a cafe oozing
with vintage charm. This boutique
cafe is filled with antique furniture
and features a large selection from
Asian designers. A place where
you can get up your laptop and set
aside an afternoon.
DA’AN QU
If you really fancy getting your
head down, come to Da’an Qu
with the knowledge that you
and your workload are in safe
hands. Spacious with a creative
atmosphere, this is a great spot
for independent work as chatting
beyond a few words is strictly
prohibited.
THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
IF YOU HAVE ONE HOUR TO SPARE
TEA & BOOKS
Knock back your morning caffeine
fix and pick up some souvenirs
for loved ones in a single go: at
Songshan Cultural and Creative
Park, a renovated tobacco factory-
turned cultural complex right in the
city centre.
A recommended gift to take back
home: Hakka-style lei cha tea from
Siid Cha.
CAFÉ DE RIZ
This has a minimalist aesthetic and
a traditional menu. Try the lemon
cake, lemon jello & hojicha creme
brulee for a sweet brunch.
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Recommendations by Stephanie Hsu of Thousandth Girlthethousandthgirl.com@thethousandthgirl
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MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS
You can find museums featuring
everything from Taiwanese
aboriginal art, to glass making, to
astronomy. Here are the best ones:
NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM
Arguably the world’s greatest
collection of Chinese art and
antiques// Jiantan MRT stop + cab
or bus
CONFUCIUS & GOD OF WAR TEMPLES
Confucius temple is dedicated to
the most famous and respected
teacher in Chinese civilization. If
you want to see classical Chinese
architecture, this temple is not to
be missed.
TZUR & BAO’AN TEMPLES
Mere footsteps away from the
Confucius and God of War
Temples, although not as elegant
and quiet, the action and noise
surrounding the temple make it an
interesting experience in itself. Plan
to arrive early in the morning to
see a Chinese priest recite ancient
scriptures.
LONGSHAN TEMPLE
Longshan Temple is one of the city’s
crowned religious sites and a prime
venue for exploring Taipei’s vibrant
folk faith and unique architecture.
This temple has also served as a
house of worship, a municipal,
guild and self-defence centre.
WHAT TO SEE
BICYCLING
There’s no better way to explore
the city than by taking a breezy
bike ride along one of the many
designated bike lanes across the
city. Tapei offers a bike sharing
program called YouBike which
allows you to rent bicycles for very
reasonable rates. The bikes can be
rented in one station and returned
to any other location.
LAZY AFTERNOON TEAS
Get geared up for the weekend
with an afternoon tea at one of
the myriad of cafés in the city. The
number of cafés and bistros seems
to grow by the week, leading to
Taipei’s growing reputation as one
of the top coffee cities in Asia.
We recommend VVG Bistro, One
Fifteen and Costumice.
YONGKANG/SHIDA
Arguably one of the trendiest
neighbourhoods in Taipei,
Yongkang/ Shida and its
neighbouring alleys are home to
night market carts, independent
merchants and a large selection
of cheap clothes from stylish
boutiques.
ZHONGSHAN
As central as it gets, Zhongshan
District is an area of daytime
parks, recreation and evening
entertainment.
MINSHENG COMMUNITY
A cute little community located
in Songshan District with a large
selection of cafes/restaurants.
THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
IF YOU HAVE TWO HOURS TO SPARE
NOTABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS
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Use chopsticks to cut and pick up
food; never your fingers.
Use chopsticks for soup, then lift
the bowl to the mouth & drink the
rest.
Rest the ‘mouth end’ of chopsticks
on your plate or stick rest.
Refill your neighbour’s glass before
your own.
Try to compliment all food and
drink that is offered to you.
Leave a bit of food and drink on
your plate to signal to your host
that you ate enough.
TIPPING
WAITSTAFF None
BARTENDERS None
TOUR GUIDES/ DAY 10%
PORTERS PER BAG NT$30
TAXI DRIVER None
TABLE MANNERS
Taiwan has a foodie culture but in
a completely unpretentious way. If
you want to know what’s good- just
look for the line of locals. While
you’re here make sure to sample
some classic locals dishes such as:
TOFU AND 100 YEAR EGGDòufu hé băinián dàn 豆腐和百年蛋
OYSTER PANCAKEuh-ah jen 蚵仔煎.
PORK RICELu rou fan(滷肉饭)
PAN-FRIED BUNSheng Jian Bao 生煎包
PINEAPPLE CAKEFènglí sū鳳梨酥
THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
FOOD TO TRY SIT-DOWN MEALS
ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE
This steakhouse is seriously
impressive. Not even so much for
the steaks, but for their cheese
programme. This San Francisco
oriented chain has brought some
delicious cheeses to Tapei.
ROOTS CREATIVE
This Taipei restaurant will blow
you away by the creativity, flavours
and portions of food. Some of the
favourites include: Furikake, local
chillies, gotdam fried tomato soup
bites. Amazing value.
ACHOI
Upscale “modern tapas”. It offers
meat sharing platters which
are enough to share between a
small group. Quite pricey but the
aesthetics of the setting make up
for it.
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BY BUS
Tapiei has an excellent bus system
and because all displays are in
English, they are a very accessible
transport method. Payment can be
made by cash or EasyCard.
BY TAXI
Taxis are the most flexible way
to get around and are extremely
numerous. They are expensive
when compared to mass transit,
but cheap compared to taxis in the
rest of the
world.
Taipei is a very safe city. Violent
crime is nearly non-existent but
watch out for pick-pockets in
crowded areas such as night
markets. Also, beware of oncoming
cars and scooters when crossing
streets or walking around narrow,
sidewalk-less side streets.
When in need of help, just ask.
The locals are extremely friendly,
and almost all young people can
communicate in basic English
STAY SAFE HOW TO GET AROUND
MAKE UPKATE
A favoured Asian drugstore
cosmetic brand. KATE products are
fairly cheap, high quality, and most
importantly- come in shades other
than snow-white.
FRAGRANCES10/10 APOTHECARY
Diverging from Channel No.5 and
Daisy by Marc Jacobs, go directly
to 10/10 Apothecary – who are
importing a number of niche beauty
and fashion brands — including a
new obsession: Stockholm-based
fragrance brand BYREDO.
CONVENIENCE STORESThese are a big hit in Taipei and
offer everything from toiletries to
cooking utensils to food.
THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
SHOP
BY METRO
Taipei city has a very clean, efficient
and safe Mass Rapid Transit system
known commonly as the MRT. Fares
are between NT$20 and NT$65 for
one-way trips around town.
In addition to single journeys, the
Taipei also sells value-added cards/
smartcards called EasyCard. One
only needs to touch them across
the barrier to gain entry.
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MARQUEE Open following a renovation, the
results are gorgeous - featuring
a massive wraparound bar with
wood panelling and red velvet
banquettes. Staffed with award
winning bartenders and high-
quality drinks with live jazz acts and
weekend hip-hop as the norm.
FRANKA new bar on the 10F of ATT4FUN
complex is reported to have good
cocktails and draw a decent crowd,
despite its relatively small space
and a miniscule patio.
窖父HIDEOUT This dive bar on the corner
of Xinsheng and Helping is
consistently packed with cool kids
dressed in black and snapbacks.
Great for cocktails.
DECIDEDLY NOT RELAXED NIGHTGo all out at a local RE-CHAO 熱炒 or hit any
of these bars until late in the night:
LETTING OFF SOME STEAM
Mingle with Taipei’s hip-to-death
set over a seriously huge glass of
white wine at (yes, really) ‘THAT FUCKING PLACE’, a dive bar located
on FourSquare. Then head over to
SHIDA NIGHT MARKET (師大 夜市) for
fried mushrooms from a street stall
stand that’s open ‘till late. Really
late.
Grab a beer at the TASTING ROOM
then cocktails at OUNCE before
it gets too crowded. After, move
on to WOOTP for a few more
concoctions, then order the duck-
fat fries. (Trust us).
RELAXED NIGHT
SORT OF RELAXED NIGHT
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IN CASE YOU GET LOST... W TAIPEI
No. 10, Section 5, Zhongxiao
E Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City,
Taiwan 110
+886 2 7703 8888
FOR FLIGHT-RELATED PROBLEMS OR QUERIES (24 HOURS):Corporate Traveller+44 207 324 8401
Emily Ames+44 7920 058281
Serena Guen+44 7768 056795
Phoebe Lovatt+1 213 479 7118
紫艷酒吧110台北市信義區忠孝東路五段10號
ORGANISERS
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